Britons will be allowed to live and work in Australia with more freedom than ever before if a new trade deal between the nations comes into effect.
The free trade deal was drafted when Britain – Australia’s second largest trading partner – left the European Union, and 99 per cent of Aussie products will enter the UK duty free.
It also includes sweeping changes to age-old rules for working vacationers, who were previously allowed to come Down Under for a year if they were under 30.
In a rule dating back more than a decade, working holidaymakers had to do 88 days of agricultural work if they wanted to stay for another year – up to a maximum of three in total.
But from July next year, Britons will be able to stay in Australia for three years without having to meet these specific work requirements, which often involves months of hard work on rural farms.
The age limit for the visa will also be raised to 35 years from July this year.
It is unclear whether the six-month work restriction, which requires WHV holders to change employers, will be further relaxed – it was changed to 12 months during the pandemic, a policy that expires on July 1 this year.
The restrictions will also be eased for Australians, who will be able to apply for a working holiday visa to the UK from July this year up to the age of 35 instead of 30, and stay for three years instead of two.
Working holiday visa holders can stay in the UK or Australia for an extended period of time under the free trade agreement that comes into effect today (stock image)
Australian producers of wine, beef, mutton, grains, rice, sugar and dairy products will benefit from duty-free quotas or tariff elimination.
Manufactured products such as car parts and electrical equipment as well as cosmetics will also receive a boost from the immediate elimination of UK tariffs.
British products including cars, whisky, confectionery, biscuits and cosmetics entering Australia are expected to be cheaper.
Commerce Secretary Don Farrell said it was an important step in trade diversification.
“It will help grow our domestic industries and homegrown manufacturing capabilities, provide benefits to Australian companies and create new high-paying jobs.”
“This new trade deal opens up new export opportunities, promotes more investment in Australia and helps diversify our trading relationship.”
Historic deal between Australia and the UK aims at easing trade and visa arrangements (pictured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greet each other in Downing Street)
Britons moving Down Under no longer have to work on the farm and local employers have fewer restrictions on hiring them (stock image)
Commerce Secretary Don Farrell (pictured) defended the deal as a ‘gold standard trade deal’
Mr Farrell added: ‘When trade flows freely, the benefits are felt in virtually all aspects of everyday life.’
“More trade means more high-paying jobs, more national income, more business opportunities and a lower cost of living.”
The UK is Australia’s 12th largest trading partner. Two-way trade in goods was worth $10 billion in 2022 and two-way trade in services was worth $4.4 billion in 2021-2022.
The UK is also Australia’s second largest source of foreign direct investment, worth more than $1 trillion by 2022.
The deal with the UK came after China imposed tariffs on Australian exports during the pandemic after the Morrison government backed an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19.
“This offers more opportunities and more resilience for Australian exporters around the world,” said former Prime Minister Scott Morrison when the landmark deal was signed in June 2021.